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Ashtrays and Cigarette Wares
Introduction: Yikes - Gonder produced a large number of ashtrays - 50+ at my last count! Nearly all of them marked. Included are ashtrays that are marked Gonder and/or
referenced in Gonder or Bradley catalog pages. Many other potteries produced ashtrays in
popular colors of the 1950's, so we must be diligent before we attribute
unmarked pieces to Gonder. For those unfamiliar with Gonder ashtrays, many of
them are large and quite heavy. Of course be on the lookout for the familiar
Gonder glazes, but take note, Gonder used some innovative glazes on ashtrays that
may easily be overlooked.
Lines of Wares: Ashtrays and Cigarette wares span several lines of wares - Imperial, Original & Sovereign. There is only one known ashtray from the Imperial Line - the commonly found #548 Horse Head Ashtray. The small Sovereign line (nine items in total) is comprised mostly of cigarette wares - the #800 Doll (Lady Bell) and #805 Vanity Powder Box are the two exceptions. The majority of ashtrays fall into the Original line. There are no known ashtrays from the Standard line.
As you may know, on occasion mold numbers were re-used by Gonder. However, it has been my experience that re-used mold number would belong to unique lines of wares. Rarely do we see the same mold number being re-used within the same Line. Ashtrays with the #804, #805, #806, #807 and #808 mold numbers are found in both the Sovereign and Original lines.
Marks: Most of the ashtrays produced were marked on the bottom. A few exceptions exist - mostly when the small size of the piece or the configuration of the bottom did not allow a proper mark. These would have been marked with paper labels. The following examples are unmarked:
All items from the Sovereign line were marked with paper labels only - hence these are often difficult to locate.
The Bradley catalog pages indicate the 800 series produced for them may have been rebranded as Bradley. It shows them as belonging to the 1800, 2400 or 3000 Group. Oddly, all the ones I have seen are marked Gonder Original - although due to heavy glazing, you may need to really look for the mark. I have not seen an example marked with a Bradley paper label but it is possible they exist.
Availability: Many of the ashtrays produced at Gonder are elusive - at least in my experience. Despite my best collecting efforts, I have only managed to locate about half of the known ashtrays. I suspect most were heavily used and hence few survive. The #223-#230 ashtrays seem very elusive and I have not seen or owned any of those - yet! Another elusive group is the #1800-#1802 set. These are documented in Gonder catalog pages. The #800 series from the Original line seem to be more easily found - most often in crackle glazes. You may likely own several of the #800 ashtrays already!
Glaze Treatments: Ashtrays were produced in many of the glazes used at Gonder. Since many ashtrays are from the Original line, you will find the same glazes used on ashtrays as was used on other items from the Original line.
The #548 Horse Head, from the Imperial line, may be found in many glazes normally found on Standard and Imperial line pieces, including Antique Gold Crackle. This piece is also found using multiple glazes - the horse head in one glaze, the base in another glaze and the interior using Gonders signature pink.
I also have several examples from the #800 series where multiple glazes were used on the same piece. Included in this editions photos are examples of #806, #808 and #816 using two glazes on the same piece. How labor intensive that must have been!
The Sovereign line was produced in five solid color glazes (White, Celadon Green, Royal Blue, Shell Pink, Azure Blue). Pieces were available as Plain or Decorated. It is unclear as to what decoration(s) were available, but I have seen these decorated with gold around the rim of the ashtrays and cigarette holders. I do have an example of the #807 Rectangular Ashtray decorated in gold with the infamous Zanesville Y Bridge. Another of my Zanesville finds - it is unclear if this is a production decoration or employee whim!
Lines of Wares: Ashtrays and Cigarette wares span several lines of wares - Imperial, Original & Sovereign. There is only one known ashtray from the Imperial Line - the commonly found #548 Horse Head Ashtray. The small Sovereign line (nine items in total) is comprised mostly of cigarette wares - the #800 Doll (Lady Bell) and #805 Vanity Powder Box are the two exceptions. The majority of ashtrays fall into the Original line. There are no known ashtrays from the Standard line.
As you may know, on occasion mold numbers were re-used by Gonder. However, it has been my experience that re-used mold number would belong to unique lines of wares. Rarely do we see the same mold number being re-used within the same Line. Ashtrays with the #804, #805, #806, #807 and #808 mold numbers are found in both the Sovereign and Original lines.
Marks: Most of the ashtrays produced were marked on the bottom. A few exceptions exist - mostly when the small size of the piece or the configuration of the bottom did not allow a proper mark. These would have been marked with paper labels. The following examples are unmarked:
- #406 Set
- #407 Set (the cigarette holder is marked, but the ashtray is not)
- #589
- #722
- #723
- NA - Spigot Ashtray
All items from the Sovereign line were marked with paper labels only - hence these are often difficult to locate.
The Bradley catalog pages indicate the 800 series produced for them may have been rebranded as Bradley. It shows them as belonging to the 1800, 2400 or 3000 Group. Oddly, all the ones I have seen are marked Gonder Original - although due to heavy glazing, you may need to really look for the mark. I have not seen an example marked with a Bradley paper label but it is possible they exist.
Availability: Many of the ashtrays produced at Gonder are elusive - at least in my experience. Despite my best collecting efforts, I have only managed to locate about half of the known ashtrays. I suspect most were heavily used and hence few survive. The #223-#230 ashtrays seem very elusive and I have not seen or owned any of those - yet! Another elusive group is the #1800-#1802 set. These are documented in Gonder catalog pages. The #800 series from the Original line seem to be more easily found - most often in crackle glazes. You may likely own several of the #800 ashtrays already!
Glaze Treatments: Ashtrays were produced in many of the glazes used at Gonder. Since many ashtrays are from the Original line, you will find the same glazes used on ashtrays as was used on other items from the Original line.
The #548 Horse Head, from the Imperial line, may be found in many glazes normally found on Standard and Imperial line pieces, including Antique Gold Crackle. This piece is also found using multiple glazes - the horse head in one glaze, the base in another glaze and the interior using Gonders signature pink.
I also have several examples from the #800 series where multiple glazes were used on the same piece. Included in this editions photos are examples of #806, #808 and #816 using two glazes on the same piece. How labor intensive that must have been!
The Sovereign line was produced in five solid color glazes (White, Celadon Green, Royal Blue, Shell Pink, Azure Blue). Pieces were available as Plain or Decorated. It is unclear as to what decoration(s) were available, but I have seen these decorated with gold around the rim of the ashtrays and cigarette holders. I do have an example of the #807 Rectangular Ashtray decorated in gold with the infamous Zanesville Y Bridge. Another of my Zanesville finds - it is unclear if this is a production decoration or employee whim!
Locate the desired item from the list below.
Click the link to see detailed information and available photos for the item.
If multiple pieces shared a mold number, please reference the description field to further identify the item.
Detailed information includes the following:
Mold Number:
Description:
Line of Ware:
Category:
Series
Estimated Value
Availability Guide:
Size:
Also Marked As:
Companion Pieces:
Notes:
For more information on Value and Availability, please see the Pricing Guidelines section of this web site.
113 Jonah and Whale Ashtray
219 Center Rest Ashtray
223 Boomerang Ashtray
224 Fish Ashtray
225 Small Round Ashtray
226 Small Oval Ashtray
227 Small Bird Ashtray
228 Open Center Square Ashtray
229 Round Cross Hatch Ashtray
230 Large Bird Ashtray
235 Bowling Ball and Pin Ashtray
251 Golf Ball Ashtray
375 Leaf Ashtray
405 Swirl Cigarette Holder and Ashtray
406 Ashtray and Cigarette Holder Set
407 Stacking Square Ashtrays and Cigarette Holder
408 Curved Ashtray
409 Large Sloped Ashtray
548 Stallion Head Ashtray
586 Modern Ashtray
587 Rectangular Sawtooth Ashtray
588 Modern Ashtray
589 Reverse G Ashtray
714 Bridge Ashtray Set
722 Rectangular Block Ashtray
723 Elliptical Ashtray
729 Large Elliptical Ashtray
801 Sovereign - Fancy Cigarette Urn
802 Sovereign - Fluted Cigarette Urn
803 Triangle Ashtray
803 Sovereign - Plain Cigarette Urn
804 Four Point Star Ashtray
804 Sovereign - Cigarette Cup
805 Square Ashtray with Greek Key Design
806 Square Ashtray with Raised Middle
806 Sovereign - Cigarette Box with Cover
807 Piecrust Ashtray
807 Sovereign - Rectangular Ashtray
808 Square Ashtray with Notched Edge
808 Sovereign - Round Ashtray
809 Modern Pear Shaped Ashtray
810 Modern Ashtray and Cigarette Holder with Lid
814 Square Rounded Corner Ashtray
815 Square Concentric Pattern Ashtray
816 Round Ashtray with Fluted Edge and Stand
1800 Large Square Ashtray
1801 Small Square Ashtray
1802 Medium Square Ashtray
NA Sip and Smoke Tray Square Mug
NA Sip and Smoke Tray Round Mug
NA Wavy Rectangular Ashtray
NA Spigot Ashtray
219 Center Rest Ashtray
223 Boomerang Ashtray
224 Fish Ashtray
225 Small Round Ashtray
226 Small Oval Ashtray
227 Small Bird Ashtray
228 Open Center Square Ashtray
229 Round Cross Hatch Ashtray
230 Large Bird Ashtray
235 Bowling Ball and Pin Ashtray
251 Golf Ball Ashtray
375 Leaf Ashtray
405 Swirl Cigarette Holder and Ashtray
406 Ashtray and Cigarette Holder Set
407 Stacking Square Ashtrays and Cigarette Holder
408 Curved Ashtray
409 Large Sloped Ashtray
548 Stallion Head Ashtray
586 Modern Ashtray
587 Rectangular Sawtooth Ashtray
588 Modern Ashtray
589 Reverse G Ashtray
714 Bridge Ashtray Set
722 Rectangular Block Ashtray
723 Elliptical Ashtray
729 Large Elliptical Ashtray
801 Sovereign - Fancy Cigarette Urn
802 Sovereign - Fluted Cigarette Urn
803 Triangle Ashtray
803 Sovereign - Plain Cigarette Urn
804 Four Point Star Ashtray
804 Sovereign - Cigarette Cup
805 Square Ashtray with Greek Key Design
806 Square Ashtray with Raised Middle
806 Sovereign - Cigarette Box with Cover
807 Piecrust Ashtray
807 Sovereign - Rectangular Ashtray
808 Square Ashtray with Notched Edge
808 Sovereign - Round Ashtray
809 Modern Pear Shaped Ashtray
810 Modern Ashtray and Cigarette Holder with Lid
814 Square Rounded Corner Ashtray
815 Square Concentric Pattern Ashtray
816 Round Ashtray with Fluted Edge and Stand
1800 Large Square Ashtray
1801 Small Square Ashtray
1802 Medium Square Ashtray
NA Sip and Smoke Tray Square Mug
NA Sip and Smoke Tray Round Mug
NA Wavy Rectangular Ashtray
NA Spigot Ashtray
